Why Girls
African girls endure the greater burden of cultural and financial constraints to attending school beyond the primary level. With a female literacy rate as low as 19% (UNESCO), South Sudan is in the top five of the highest female illiteracy zones globally. Poverty, gender bias, cultural obstacles as well as fear and instability due to conflict have caused parents in both South Sudan and Uganda to be resistant to sending their girls to school. In both regions, this has led to a distinct gap in enrollment, retention and completion rates between boys and girls. The Wai Foundation believes that gender equality in education will lead to a brighter future for all. Our vision is to fundamentally alter the future for these girls by providing those who show academic promise with the opportunity to continue onto secondary school and beyond.